Vladimir Putin's opening address:

Good afternoon,

I have invited you to this meeting to discuss the organisation of Russia's first national research centre based on the Kurchatov Institute (KI).

As you know, key decisions regarding this centre have been made. Considering the importance of this project, the new research centre will be directly subordinate to the government and hence, financed from the federal budget.

I have made it clear that apart from the current funding, we will allocate an additional 10 billion roubles for KI's development in the next three years. In addition to this, the departments concerned should finalize the coordination of a special bill on its legal status very soon.

The Kurchatov Institute is designed to serve as a model for organising all national research centres. As you may recall, we plan to set up five to seven such centres.

I know about the doubt which was expressed at the beginning of this work, and I respect this opinion. This is what I would like to say in this context. We are not simply going to merge or consolidate the existing well-known and reputable institutions. This is not the goal we are trying to achieve.

I would like to emphasize that we are not after a perfunctory merger or consolidation. In effect, we will introduce entirely new elements into the formation of Russia's innovative infrastructure. We will adopt modern methods of management and scientific research to form a single chain based on fundamental groundwork and ending in technology, resulting in real prospects for high-tech science-intensive markets.

These centres will receive the most advanced research and development facilities with a view to attracting both Russian and foreign scientists.

As we have agreed, we must concentrate our resources in these directions, which hold promise of a breakthrough in the interests of the country's economic modernisation and the consolidation of the status of Russian science in general.

In this context I would like to discuss with you in more detail a five-year programme for KI's development, its main concepts and objectives. I am ready to listen to your proposals on securing resources for the programme.

As I mentioned, we are allocating 10 billion roubles for the next three years and it would be best to discuss today how we are going to spend these funds, in particular, on implementing the projects I alluded to. We will have to allocate additional funds for specific projects. We will be willing to consider this, but let me repeat that I mean specific projects with meaningful results.

I believe we should take into account a number of important points.

First, we should develop not only those avenues of research in which we have traditionally done well (and the KI has many of these) but also develop new and promising technologies, which will determine the evolution and key vectors of global technological competition.

In this context I would like to mention KI's research at the junction of nano, bio and information technology. This research is designed to secure substantial progress in developing artificial intelligence, super computers, hardware components for electronics, new materials with unique properties and diagnostic medical systems.

Second, today I would like to hear about KI's plans on nuclear and energy technology, in particular on new power plants and pilot units and energy saving projects.

Third, in developing the centre it is necessary to pay special attention to its integration with higher educational institutions and their research. It is important to establish direct cooperation with the country's leading universities and organize exchange experience for students, starting with juniors.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that new centres should take an active part in international research cooperation. I know this is part of the plan. Any cooperation must be equitable and involve befitting partners.

We must determine for Russian scientists the optimal format of participation in major international projects and ensure the effective use of the results for Russia's technological development.

KI is already taking a most active part in such projects. We will also speak about this today and about similar future projects.

Let's get down to work.